According to the National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities, recreational activities contribute to an individual’s quality of life by:

  • Promoting physical activity as part of an active lifestyle
  • Developing fundamental motor skills necessary for participating in individual and team sports
  • Increasing physical independence and/or mobility
  • Enhancing self-esteem and self-image
  • Establishing friendships with peers of all abilities
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Newsroom
W.K. Kellogg Foundation receives national award...
in recognition of efforts to increase recreation opportunities for people of all ages and all abilities. Local community foundations in four states partner on Access to Recreation initiative

The Council on Foundations has announced that the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has received a Critical Impact Award in recognition of its multi-state Access to Recreation initiative. The national award recognizes grantmaking foundations that have demonstrated innovative leadership, bold vision, and significant impact in advancing the common good through effective grantmaking. The Council of Michigan Foundations was an important partner to the initiative, coordinating statewide efforts to encourage policy change surrounding the issue of accessible recreation. Additional statewide partners include Ohio Grantmakers Forum, Indiana Grantmakers Alliance, and Donors Forum (Illinois).

Beginning in 2006 with an initial grant to Midwest Community Foundations’ Ventures, 22 local community foundations in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan subsequently received grants ranging from $52,000 to $425,000 to build recreation projects that provide inclusive access beyond that mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act to help create an inclusive “equality of experience.” The most visible result of the initiative are more than 40 recreation projects that include trails, wildlife viewing blinds, an indoor greenhouse, playgrounds, splash pads, and more. In all cases, advisory groups included people with disabilities or family members and advocates of people with disabilities to bring new ideas to the design process and to ensure that the final product met the high standards of the initiative.

Not as visible, but just as important, were strategies developed to bring communities together to address local recreation needs; to influence public policy as it pertains to accessibility; and to build awareness of the increasing need for accessible recreation. As part of its efforts to build collaboration and community support, Access to Recreation brought new definition to the role of recreation as it serves the public – as a driver of improved health, economic development, and social justice.

“The success of Access to Recreation began with the vision and commitment of the local community foundations,” said Donnell Mersereau, executive director, Midwest Community Foundations’ Ventures. “Their leadership in bringing together diverse groups of people to help find solutions to the issue of inclusive recreation was inspiring. And in finding these solutions, they reinforced the values of equality, inclusion and a welcoming spirit toward people of all ages and all abilities.